EP4119471A1 - Seal structure and weighing machine comprising same - Google Patents
Seal structure and weighing machine comprising same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4119471A1 EP4119471A1 EP20924935.8A EP20924935A EP4119471A1 EP 4119471 A1 EP4119471 A1 EP 4119471A1 EP 20924935 A EP20924935 A EP 20924935A EP 4119471 A1 EP4119471 A1 EP 4119471A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- vibrator
- top plate
- coupler
- vibrating head
- base body
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000005303 weighing Methods 0.000 title claims description 49
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 111
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 claims description 43
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims 2
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 23
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 21
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 12
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 12
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 12
- 230000032258 transport Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 4
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 3
- NJPPVKZQTLUDBO-UHFFFAOYSA-N novaluron Chemical compound C1=C(Cl)C(OC(F)(F)C(OC(F)(F)F)F)=CC=C1NC(=O)NC(=O)C1=C(F)C=CC=C1F NJPPVKZQTLUDBO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000005060 rubber Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920002379 silicone rubber Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920002943 EPDM rubber Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 241001669573 Galeorhinus galeus Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000009508 confectionery Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000005489 elastic deformation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007257 malfunction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000011888 snacks Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000007723 transport mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G19/00—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups
- G01G19/387—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups for combinatorial weighing, i.e. selecting a combination of articles whose total weight or number is closest to a desired value
- G01G19/393—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups for combinatorial weighing, i.e. selecting a combination of articles whose total weight or number is closest to a desired value using two or more weighing units
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G27/00—Jigging conveyors
- B65G27/08—Supports or mountings for load-carriers, e.g. framework, bases, spring arrangements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G21/00—Details of weighing apparatus
- G01G21/30—Means for preventing contamination by dust
Definitions
- This invention relates to a sealing structure suitable for transport mechanisms driven to vibrationally transport target articles, and a weighing machine or apparatus equipped with such a sealing structure.
- An example of the conventional combination scales used to weigh articles which is described in Patent Literature 1, includes a center base body and a dispersion feeder and linear feeders disposed in an upper part of the center base body.
- the dispersion feeder radially disperses and transports, through vibrations, the articles supplied from above.
- the linear feeders receive the articles dispersed and supplied from the dispersion feeder and respectively transport the received articles further outward.
- the combination scale is further equipped with a plurality of feeding hoppers and a plurality of weighing hoppers.
- the feeding hoppers and the weighing hoppers are disposed in the outer circumference of the center base body.
- the feeding hoppers temporarily retain the articles ejected and received from the linear feeders.
- the weighing hoppers temporarily retain the articles ejected and received from the feeding hoppers and then weigh the retained articles.
- combinatorial computations are executed based on the weights of articles in the weighing hoppers to select a combination of these hoppers containing the articles having a summed weight that falls within a predetermined range of weights. Then, the gates of the selected hoppers are opened to discharge the articles out of these hoppers. The discharged articles are guided along a collection chute and collected toward the center of the base body and then thrown into a packaging apparatus disposed further down below.
- combination scales of the known art need to be washed and cleaned at times to remove any crumbs or flakes of the articles handled in these scales.
- cleaning is indispensably required; cleaning at regular intervals, and also cleaning whenever necessary for such instances as any change of types of food to be weighed.
- the center base body is conventionally mounted with vibrators for the dispersion feeder and for the linear feeders to vibrationally transport articles to be delivered.
- the vibrators each have a vibrating head disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of an opening formed in the top plate of the center base body. To these exposed heads of the vibrators are coupled the top cone of the dispersion feeder and the troughs of the linear feeders.
- FIG. 12 is illustrated a sealing structure C of the known art used for the linear feeders.
- a center base body 31 has a top plate 31a and is mounted with a vibrator 30 having a vibrating head 33.
- the top plate 31a has an opening 32, and the vibrating head 33 is disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of the opening 32.
- the troughs of the linear feeders (not illustrated in the drawing) are detachably mounted to the vibrating head 33.
- the vibrating head 33 is covered with a sealing member; annular bellows 35 made of a soft rubber material.
- the bellows 35 has an annular upper end 35a and an annular lower end 35b.
- the upper end 35a is coupled to and supported by an upper part of the vibrating head 33.
- the lower end 35b is coupled to and supported by the top plate 31a.
- Patent literature 1 JP 2014-235141A
- the troughs and the top cone are conventionally removed from the vibrating heads of the vibrators. At that time, the troughs and/or the top cone may be accidentally hit against the bellows and damaged. This risk may increase with any combination scales in which a large number of linear feeders are circularly arranged in proximity, because the troughs of these feeders, unless they are carefully removed, are more likely to bump the bellows nearby. If an excessively large impact is generated then, the bellows may possibly crack to an extent that undermines a desirable waterproof effect.
- the surface of the bellows if not so damaged to crack, may be more or less flawed or scratched. As the combination scale is run time after time, the bellows may continue to elastically deform, possibly widening the flaw or scratch into a crack(s).
- This invention was accomplished to address these issues of the known art and is directed to providing a sealing structure that can achieve a remarkable waterproofness when a sealing member, like bellows, happens to be damaged. This invention is also directed to providing a weighing apparatus equipped with such a sealing structure.
- this invention provides the following technical features.
- the sealing member of this sealing structure its upper coupler is coupled to an upper part of the vibrating head and its intermediate coupler is coupled to the top plate, and a portion of the sealing member along its couplers; upper to intermediate coupler, is exposed. This portion thus exposed may be easily damaged under a certain impact against any other member. To avoid the risk, the intermediate coupler coupled to the top plate is extended and thereby becomes continuous to the lower coupler coupled to the lower part of the vibrating head.
- the sealing member has a double sealing mechanism; one is an outer sealing including a portion from the upper coupler coupled to the upper part of the vibrating head to the intermediate coupler coupled to the top plate, and the other is an inner sealing including a portion from the intermediate coupler coupled to the top plate to the lower coupler coupled to the lower part of the vibrating head. Supposing that any member or object hits and damage the outer sealing of the sealing member, cleaning water may possibly leak through the damaged part. Yet, the sealing member further has the inner sealing from its intermediate coupler coupled to the top plate to its lower coupler coupled to the lower part of the vibrating head. This inner sealing may effectively prevent the cleaning water from further advancing into the cabinet.
- the sealing member includes a bulging portion deformable outward between the upper coupler and the intermediate coupler.
- the sealing member has a bulging portion between the upper coupler coupled to the upper part of the vibrating head and the intermediate coupler coupled to the top plate.
- the bulging portion is deformed and curved outward in response to any vibration displacement of the vibrating head.
- vibrations of the vibrating head may be absorbed well and prevented from transmitting to the top plate of the cabinet.
- the sealing member has a deformable bent portion between the intermediate coupler and the lower coupler.
- the sealing member has a deformable bent portion between the intermediate coupler coupled to the top plate and the lower coupler coupled to the lower part of the vibrating head.
- This deformable bent portion is allowed to deform in response to any vibration displacement of the vibrating head.
- the vibrations may be successfully prevented from transmitting to the top plate of the cabinet.
- the bent portion thus easily deformable may effectively reduce a drive load of the vibrating head resulting from resistance to deformation of the sealing member.
- the deformable bent portion is a groove.
- the deformable bent portion in the form of a groove may not only absorb the vibrations but also retain cleaning water that accidentally leaked in, thus preventing the cleaning water from running toward the vibrating head.
- the sealing member is made of a transparent or translucent material.
- whether cleaning water has penetrated beyond the sealing member may be visually checked from outside. Such a visual check may allow an operator to correctly and precisely know whether the damaged sealing member invited the water penetration or whether the sealing member should be replaced. Thus, the maintenance work may be better performed.
- the top plate of the cabinet partly includes a raised portion, and the intermediate coupler of the sealing member is coupled to an upper surface of the raised portion.
- the sealing member is thus attached to the raised portion of the top plate. This may facilitate cleaning of the upper surface of the top plate; washing or wiping, without any contact with the sealing member.
- a weighing apparatus includes a center base body including a top plate and used as a cabinet, a dispersion feeder, and a plurality of linear feeders each having a trough, the dispersion feeder and the linear feeders being disposed in an upper part of the center base body.
- the dispersion feeder radially disperses and transports articles, and the linear feeders transport, further outward, the articles dispersed and transported by the dispersion feeder.
- the weighing apparatus further includes a plurality of feeding hoppers and a plurality of weighing hoppers that are disposed in an outer circumference of the center base body.
- the feeding hoppers temporarily retain and then discharge the articles received from the linear feeders, and the weighing hoppers retain and weigh the articles discharged from the feeding hoppers.
- the center base body is mounted with a vibrator for the linear feeders, the vibrator having a vibrating head disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of an opening of the top plate.
- the troughs of the linear feeders are mounted to the vibrating head of the vibrator.
- the weighing apparatus further includes the sealing structure described in one of 1] to 6] in which the sealing member is interposed between the vibrating head of the vibrator for the linear feeders and the top plate of the center base body.
- the troughs of these feeders may often bump the sealing member nearby when they are removed.
- cleaning water if it leaks in through any damaged part of the sealing member, may be effectively prevented from further advancing into the center base body (cabinet). This may ensure a trouble-free weighing operation of the weighing apparatus that can run for a long duration of time.
- the center base body is mounted with a vibrator for the dispersion feeder, the vibrator having a vibrating head disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of the opening of the top plate.
- the top cone of the dispersion feeder is mounted to the vibrating head of the vibrator.
- the weighing apparatus further includes the sealing structure described in one of 1] to 6] in which the sealing member is interposed between the vibrating head of the vibrator for the dispersion feeder and the top plate of the center base body.
- the double sealing mechanism inner sealing and outer sealing, is offered by just one sealing member.
- cleaning water if it leaked in through any damaged part of the sealing member, may be effectively prevented from further advancing into the center base body (cabinet). This may ensure a trouble-free weighing operation of the weighing apparatus that can run for a long duration of time.
- This invention may successfully provide a sealing structure that can promise a remarkable waterproofness despite any damage to the sealing member, and a weighing apparatus equipped with the sealing structure.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view, illustrating the external appearance of a combination scale A; an exemplified weighing apparatus.
- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating the combination scale A.
- This combination scale A may be used in a packaging line in which articles, for example, snacks, sweets or any other foodstuffs are weighed, and the articles having a certain weight that falls within a predetermined range of weights are discharged and thrown into a packaging apparatus below, not illustrated in the drawings, and then packed into bags.
- the combination scale A is so structured that a substantially columnar center base body 1 is supported on a pedestal 2 at the center of this scale through a plurality of (four in the illustrated example) leg portions 3.
- the pedestal 2 is placed on a floor surface F, as illustrated in Fig. 2 .
- This pedestal has an opening in which a lower part of the combination scale A is insertable.
- a dispersion feeder 4 is disposed in the upper direction of the center base body 1.
- the dispersion feeder 4 receives the articles dropping from a feeder not illustrated in the drawings and transports the received articles by radially dispersing them through vibrations.
- a plurality of (14 in the illustrated example) linear feeders 5 are disposed around the dispersion feeder 4. These linear feeders 5 receive the articles from the dispersion feeder 4 and vibrationally transports the articles outward.
- This combination scale further has, beneath the ends of the linear feeders 5, feeding hoppers 6 and weighing hoppers 7 that are disposed correspondingly to the linear feeders 5.
- a plurality of (14 in the illustrated example) weighing units each containing the linear feeder 5, feeding hopper 6 and weighing hopper 7 are circularly arranged around the center base body 1.
- a collection chute 8 is disposed at a position below the weighing hoppers 7 that are circularly arranged.
- the collection chute 8 receive the articles discharged from an optimal combination of weighing hoppers containing the articles having a summed weight that falls within a predetermined range of weights.
- a collection funnel 9 At a position below the collection chute 8 is disposed a collection funnel 9 that collects the articles dropping from the collection chute 8.
- a collection hopper 10 is disposed below the collection funnel 9. The collection hopper 10 receives and retains the articles dropped and collected along the collection funnel 9 toward the center and then discharges the articles based on an article discharge request from the packaging apparatus.
- the dispersion feeder 4 includes a top cone 11 to which the articles are supplied and further includes an electromagnetic vibrator 12 driven to vibrate the top cone 11.
- the vibrator 12 is coupled to a center part of a support frame 13 with a weight sensor 14 being interposed therebetween.
- the linear feeders 5 each have a trough (feeder pan) 16 that extends to and from inner and outer sides of the scale and also have an electromagnetic vibrator 17 driven to vibrate the trough.
- the vibrators 17 are supportably mounted to the support frame 13 in the center base body 1 in a manner that surround the vibrator 13 for the dispersion feeder 5.
- Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the combination scale from which the top cone 11 of the dispersion feeder 4 and the troughs 16 of the linear feeders 5 have been removed.
- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the center base body 1 from which the top cone 11 and the troughs 16 have been removed.
- a buckle-type coupling jig 15 having an operation lever 15a.
- the top cone 11 is fixedly couplable to or decouplable from the vibrator 12 in the following manner; first, the coupling jig 15 is located to and engaged with an exposed upper part of the vibrator 12, and the operation lever 15a is then oscillated upward or downward beyond the dead center.
- the linear feeders 5 each have, on its bottom lower surface, a buckle-type coupling jig 18 having an operation lever 18a.
- the trough 16 of the linear feeder 5 is fixedly couplable to or decouplable from the vibrator 17 in the following manner; first, the coupling jig 18 is located to and engaged with an exposed upper part of the vibrator 17, and the operation lever 18a is then oscillated upward or downward beyond the dead center.
- the center base body 1 has, in its outer circumference, driving units 19 driven to open and close the gates of the feeding hoppers 6 and weighing hoppers 7.
- weight sensors like load cells, are also housed in the center base body 1 in addition to the driving units 19. The weight sensors are used to measure the weights of articles in the weighing hoppers 7.
- the weight sensor 14 detects the weight of articles in the top cone 11 of the dispersion feeder 4.
- the supply of articles into the dispersion feeder 4 is controlled, so that the top cone 11 is constantly supplied with the articles of a weight that falls within a certain range of weights.
- the combination scale A has, in its portion mounted with the dispersion feeder 4 and the linear feeders 5, a sealing structure B serving to prevent the penetration of cleaning water into the center base body 1.
- Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the sealing structure B for the linear feeders 5.
- Fig. 6 is a partly broken, perspective view of a bellows; an exemplified sealing member used in the sealing structure B.
- Fig. 7 is a partly broken, plan view of the bellows.
- Fig. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bellows.
- the sealing structure B uses, as a sealing member, an annular bellows 21.
- the annular bellows 21 is made of a transparent rubber material, an example of which is a silicon rubber easy to elastically deform.
- This bellows 21 includes annular coupling portions; an upper coupler 21a, an intermediate coupler 21b continuous to the upper coupler 21a, and a lower coupler 21c continuous to the intermediate coupler 21b.
- the upper coupler 21a is couplable to an upper part of a vibrating head 23 of the vibrator 17.
- the intermediate coupler 21b is couplable to the top plate 1a of the center base body 1.
- the lower coupler 21c is couplable to a lower part of the vibrating head 23.
- the upper coupler 21a is a thick portion formed at a center-side upper edge of the annular bellows 21 (inner upper edge).
- the lower coupler 21c is a thick portion formed at a center-side lower edge of the annular bellows 21 on the center side (inner lower edge).
- the intermediate coupler 21b is formed in a flat shape along the top plate 1a of the center base body 1.
- This intermediate coupler 21b has a plurality of (five in the illustrated example) coupling holes 22. These coupling holes 22 are circumferentially formed at a constant pitch and are used to couple the intermediate coupler 21b to the top plate 1a of the center base body 1.
- a bulging portion 21e is annularly formed between the intermediate coupler 21b and a flat upper surface portion 21d extending outward from the upper coupler 21a.
- the bulging portion 21e is deformed and curved outward in the illustrated example.
- the intermediate coupler 21b extends from a lower part of the bulging portion 21e toward the center (inward) of the annular bellows 21.
- a groove 21f which is an example of the elastically deformable portion, is annularly formed between the intermediate coupler 21b and the lower coupler 21c.
- the vibrating head 23 of the vibrator 17 is electromagnetically driven and vibrationally displaceable.
- the trough-mounting portion of the top plate 1a of the center base body 1 is raised to a higher level than the other portions, constituting a top plate raised portion 1a'.
- the top plate raised portion 1a' has an opening 24 formed in its upper surface, and the vibrating head 23 is disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of the opening 24.
- the vibrating head 23 includes a vibrating body 23a, a first support member 23b, a second support member 23c, and an engageable coupling member 23d.
- the vibrating body 23a is electromagnetically driven and thereby vibrated at a predetermined frequency and amplitude.
- the first support member 23b is coupled onto the vibrating body 23a.
- the second support member 23c is coupled onto the first support member 23b.
- the engageable coupling member 23d is coupled onto the second support member 23c.
- the lower coupler 21c of the bellows 21 is coupled to and held between the first support member 23b and the second support member 23c.
- the upper coupler 21a of the bellows 21 is coupled to and held between the second support member 23c and the engageable coupling member 23d.
- the intermediate coupler 21b of the bellows 21 is held between push rings 25 embedded in the bellows 21 and the upper surface of the top plate raised portion 1a'. Screws 26 are inserted through the push rings 25 and the coupling holes 22 and then fastened into the top plate raised portion 1a' to fixedly couple the intermediate coupler 21b of the bellows 21 to the top plate raised portion 1a'.
- the bulging portion 21e of the bellows 21 elastically deforms in response to any vibration displacement of the vibrating head 23. This may absorb vibrations of the vibrating head 23, thus preventing the vibrations from transmitting to the top plate 1a.
- the groove 21f is elastically deformable upon any vibration displacement of the vibrating head 23, which may also conduct to the absorption of the vibrations of the vibrating head 23.
- the exposed upper surface portion 21d and bulging portion 21e may involve the risk of contact with any other member or object. Such a contact may possibly damage and generate a crack(s) in these portions, which possibly invites cleaning water to penetrate into the bellows 21.
- the intermediate coupler 21b coupled to the top plate raised portion 1a' extends, through the groove 21f, to the lower coupler 21c coupled to the lower part of the sealing structure B.
- This sealing structure offers a double sealing mechanism; one is an outer sealing including the exposed upper surface portion 21d and bulging portion 21e and a portion from the bulging portion 21a to the intermediate coupler 21b, and an inner sealing including a portion from the intermediate coupler 21b to the lower coupler 21c through the groove 21f.
- cleaning water may be invited inward as a result of any damage to the bulging portion 21e and/or the upper surface portion 21d of the outer sealing.
- the inner sealing is further provided that includes a portion from the intermediate coupler 21b to the lower coupler 21c through the groove 21f. This inner sealing may effectively prevent the cleaning water from further penetrating into the center base body 1. The cleaning water, if it penetrated into the bellows 21, may be retained inside the groove 21g.
- the bellows 21 made of a transparent rubber material may allow the inside to be easily looked in, and whether the groove 21g is containing the cleaning water may be checked in a timely manner. This may lead to quick decision on whether there is any damage to the bellows 21 or whether the bellows 21 should be replaced.
- the material of the bellows is not necessarily selected from silicon rubbers and may be selected from translucent materials including EPDM.
- the sealing structure B may also be used to block any fluid from entering the dispersion feeder 4.
- Fig. 9 is illustrated the sealing structure B disposed in the dispersion feeder-mounted portion.
- the top plate raised portion 1a' which is made of a different material, is disposed in a manner that protrudes upward to a large extent, as illustrated in Fig. 9 .
- the vibrator 12 has a vibrating head 27 and is housed in the top plate raised portion 1a'. This vibrating head 27 is disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of the center opening formed in the upper surface of the top plate raised portion 1a'.
- the top cone 11 is coupled to an upper end of the vibrating head 27 through the buckle-type coupling jig 15.
- the same bellows 21 as in the sealing structure B for the linear feeders 5 is fitted to between the protruding portion of the vibrating head 27 and the upper surface of the top plate raised portion 1a' in the same manner as the linear feeders 5.
- the scope of this invention may include the following modes.
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- Jigging Conveyors (AREA)
- Feeding Of Articles To Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to a sealing structure suitable for transport mechanisms driven to vibrationally transport target articles, and a weighing machine or apparatus equipped with such a sealing structure.
- An example of the conventional combination scales used to weigh articles, which is described in
Patent Literature 1, includes a center base body and a dispersion feeder and linear feeders disposed in an upper part of the center base body. The dispersion feeder radially disperses and transports, through vibrations, the articles supplied from above. The linear feeders receive the articles dispersed and supplied from the dispersion feeder and respectively transport the received articles further outward. The combination scale is further equipped with a plurality of feeding hoppers and a plurality of weighing hoppers. The feeding hoppers and the weighing hoppers are disposed in the outer circumference of the center base body. The feeding hoppers temporarily retain the articles ejected and received from the linear feeders. The weighing hoppers temporarily retain the articles ejected and received from the feeding hoppers and then weigh the retained articles. - In the combinations scales, combinatorial computations are executed based on the weights of articles in the weighing hoppers to select a combination of these hoppers containing the articles having a summed weight that falls within a predetermined range of weights. Then, the gates of the selected hoppers are opened to discharge the articles out of these hoppers. The discharged articles are guided along a collection chute and collected toward the center of the base body and then thrown into a packaging apparatus disposed further down below.
- Such combination scales of the known art need to be washed and cleaned at times to remove any crumbs or flakes of the articles handled in these scales. In combination scales used to weigh foodstuffs, in particular, cleaning is indispensably required; cleaning at regular intervals, and also cleaning whenever necessary for such instances as any change of types of food to be weighed.
- During the cleaning operation, cleaning water used then possibly penetrates into the center base body mounted with the dispersion feeder and linear feeders. This may adversely affect the electric devices used in the feeders, possibly leading to malfunction or breakdown. The combination scales are, therefore, typically equipped with structural features for sealing that can prevent the water penetration into their center base bodies.
- The center base body is conventionally mounted with vibrators for the dispersion feeder and for the linear feeders to vibrationally transport articles to be delivered. The vibrators each have a vibrating head disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of an opening formed in the top plate of the center base body. To these exposed heads of the vibrators are coupled the top cone of the dispersion feeder and the troughs of the linear feeders.
- In
Fig. 12 is illustrated a sealing structure C of the known art used for the linear feeders. Acenter base body 31 has atop plate 31a and is mounted with avibrator 30 having a vibratinghead 33. Thetop plate 31a has anopening 32, and the vibratinghead 33 is disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of theopening 32. The troughs of the linear feeders (not illustrated in the drawing) are detachably mounted to the vibratinghead 33. The vibratinghead 33 is covered with a sealing member; annular bellows 35 made of a soft rubber material. The bellows 35 has an annularupper end 35a and an annular lower end 35b. Theupper end 35a is coupled to and supported by an upper part of the vibratinghead 33. The lower end 35b is coupled to and supported by thetop plate 31a. Thus, cleaning water may be prevented from advancing inward through theopening 32, with the vibratinghead 33 being allowed to vibrationally displace deform by elastic deformation of thebellows 35. - Patent literature 1:
JP 2014-235141A - For cleaning, the troughs and the top cone are conventionally removed from the vibrating heads of the vibrators. At that time, the troughs and/or the top cone may be accidentally hit against the bellows and damaged. This risk may increase with any combination scales in which a large number of linear feeders are circularly arranged in proximity, because the troughs of these feeders, unless they are carefully removed, are more likely to bump the bellows nearby. If an excessively large impact is generated then, the bellows may possibly crack to an extent that undermines a desirable waterproof effect.
- The surface of the bellows, if not so damaged to crack, may be more or less flawed or scratched. As the combination scale is run time after time, the bellows may continue to elastically deform, possibly widening the flaw or scratch into a crack(s).
- This invention was accomplished to address these issues of the known art and is directed to providing a sealing structure that can achieve a remarkable waterproofness when a sealing member, like bellows, happens to be damaged. This invention is also directed to providing a weighing apparatus equipped with such a sealing structure.
- To this end, this invention provides the following technical features.
- 1] A sealing structure according to this invention includes a sealing member having an annular shape and elastically deformable. The sealing member is interposed between a top plate of a cabinet mounted with a vibrator and a vibrating head of the vibrator disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of an opening of the top plate. The sealing member includes an upper coupler, an intermediate coupler continuous to the upper coupler, and a lower coupler continuous to the intermediate coupler, the upper coupler being couplable to an upper part of the vibrating head, the intermediate coupler being couplable to the top plate, the lower coupler being couplable to a lower part of the vibrating head.
- In the sealing member of this sealing structure, its upper coupler is coupled to an upper part of the vibrating head and its intermediate coupler is coupled to the top plate, and a portion of the sealing member along its couplers; upper to intermediate coupler, is exposed. This portion thus exposed may be easily damaged under a certain impact against any other member. To avoid the risk, the intermediate coupler coupled to the top plate is extended and thereby becomes continuous to the lower coupler coupled to the lower part of the vibrating head.
- Thus, the sealing member has a double sealing mechanism; one is an outer sealing including a portion from the upper coupler coupled to the upper part of the vibrating head to the intermediate coupler coupled to the top plate, and the other is an inner sealing including a portion from the intermediate coupler coupled to the top plate to the lower coupler coupled to the lower part of the vibrating head. Supposing that any member or object hits and damage the outer sealing of the sealing member, cleaning water may possibly leak through the damaged part. Yet, the sealing member further has the inner sealing from its intermediate coupler coupled to the top plate to its lower coupler coupled to the lower part of the vibrating head. This inner sealing may effectively prevent the cleaning water from further advancing into the cabinet.
- 2] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the sealing member includes a bulging portion deformable outward between the upper coupler and the intermediate coupler.
- According to this embodiment, the sealing member has a bulging portion between the upper coupler coupled to the upper part of the vibrating head and the intermediate coupler coupled to the top plate. The bulging portion is deformed and curved outward in response to any vibration displacement of the vibrating head. Thus, vibrations of the vibrating head may be absorbed well and prevented from transmitting to the top plate of the cabinet.
- 3] In an embodiment of this invention, the sealing member has a deformable bent portion between the intermediate coupler and the lower coupler.
- According to this embodiment, the sealing member has a deformable bent portion between the intermediate coupler coupled to the top plate and the lower coupler coupled to the lower part of the vibrating head. This deformable bent portion is allowed to deform in response to any vibration displacement of the vibrating head. Thus, the vibrations may be successfully prevented from transmitting to the top plate of the cabinet. Also, the bent portion thus easily deformable may effectively reduce a drive load of the vibrating head resulting from resistance to deformation of the sealing member.
- 4] In other embodiments of this invention, the deformable bent portion is a groove.
- According to the embodiments, the deformable bent portion in the form of a groove may not only absorb the vibrations but also retain cleaning water that accidentally leaked in, thus preventing the cleaning water from running toward the vibrating head.
- 5] In further embodiments of this invention, the sealing member is made of a transparent or translucent material.
- According to the embodiments, whether cleaning water has penetrated beyond the sealing member may be visually checked from outside. Such a visual check may allow an operator to correctly and precisely know whether the damaged sealing member invited the water penetration or whether the sealing member should be replaced. Thus, the maintenance work may be better performed.
- 6] In an embodiment of this invention, the top plate of the cabinet partly includes a raised portion, and the intermediate coupler of the sealing member is coupled to an upper surface of the raised portion.
- According to this embodiment, the sealing member is thus attached to the raised portion of the top plate. This may facilitate cleaning of the upper surface of the top plate; washing or wiping, without any contact with the sealing member.
- 7] A weighing apparatus according to this invention includes a center base body including a top plate and used as a cabinet, a dispersion feeder, and a plurality of linear feeders each having a trough, the dispersion feeder and the linear feeders being disposed in an upper part of the center base body. The dispersion feeder radially disperses and transports articles, and the linear feeders transport, further outward, the articles dispersed and transported by the dispersion feeder. The weighing apparatus further includes a plurality of feeding hoppers and a plurality of weighing hoppers that are disposed in an outer circumference of the center base body. The feeding hoppers temporarily retain and then discharge the articles received from the linear feeders, and the weighing hoppers retain and weigh the articles discharged from the feeding hoppers. The center base body is mounted with a vibrator for the linear feeders, the vibrator having a vibrating head disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of an opening of the top plate. The troughs of the linear feeders are mounted to the vibrating head of the vibrator. The weighing apparatus further includes the sealing structure described in one of 1] to 6] in which the sealing member is interposed between the vibrating head of the vibrator for the linear feeders and the top plate of the center base body.
- In a conventional weighing apparatus in which a large number of linear feeders are arranged in proximity, the troughs of these feeders may often bump the sealing member nearby when they are removed. In the weighing apparatus further including the double sealing structure according to this invention, cleaning water, if it leaks in through any damaged part of the sealing member, may be effectively prevented from further advancing into the center base body (cabinet). This may ensure a trouble-free weighing operation of the weighing apparatus that can run for a long duration of time.
- 8] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the center base body is mounted with a vibrator for the dispersion feeder, the vibrator having a vibrating head disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of the opening of the top plate. The top cone of the dispersion feeder is mounted to the vibrating head of the vibrator. The weighing apparatus further includes the sealing structure described in one of 1] to 6] in which the sealing member is interposed between the vibrating head of the vibrator for the dispersion feeder and the top plate of the center base body.
- An operator, who wants to remove from a weighing apparatus the top cone located at the upper center of the center base body, has to reach out across the outer circumference of the center base body to the relatively large and heavy top cone. At the time, the operator may accidentally drop the top cone and damage the sealing member. According to this embodiment, the double sealing mechanism; inner sealing and outer sealing, is offered by just one sealing member. Thus, cleaning water, if it leaked in through any damaged part of the sealing member, may be effectively prevented from further advancing into the center base body (cabinet). This may ensure a trouble-free weighing operation of the weighing apparatus that can run for a long duration of time.
- This invention may successfully provide a sealing structure that can promise a remarkable waterproofness despite any damage to the sealing member, and a weighing apparatus equipped with the sealing structure.
-
-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, illustrating the external appearance of a combination scale; an exemplified weighing apparatus according to an embodiment of this invention. -
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating the combination scale ofFig. 1 . -
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the combination scale from which the top cone of a dispersion feeder and troughs of linear feeders have been removed. -
Fig. 4 is a perspective view, illustrating a center base body from which the top cone and the troughs have been removed. -
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, illustrating a sealing structure for the linear feeders. -
Fig. 6 is a partly broken, perspective view of a bellows; an exemplified sealing member used in the sealing structure. -
Fig. 7 is a partly broken, plan view of the bellow. -
Fig. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bellows. -
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a sealing structure for the dispersion feeder. -
Fig. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a sealing structure according to another embodiment of this invention. -
Fig. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a sealing structure according to yet another embodiment of this invention. -
Fig. 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a sealing structure of the known art. - Embodiments of this invention are hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, illustrating the external appearance of a combination scale A; an exemplified weighing apparatus.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating the combination scale A. - This combination scale A may be used in a packaging line in which articles, for example, snacks, sweets or any other foodstuffs are weighed, and the articles having a certain weight that falls within a predetermined range of weights are discharged and thrown into a packaging apparatus below, not illustrated in the drawings, and then packed into bags.
- The combination scale A is so structured that a substantially columnar
center base body 1 is supported on apedestal 2 at the center of this scale through a plurality of (four in the illustrated example)leg portions 3. Thepedestal 2 is placed on a floor surface F, as illustrated inFig. 2 . This pedestal has an opening in which a lower part of the combination scale A is insertable. - A
dispersion feeder 4 is disposed in the upper direction of thecenter base body 1. Thedispersion feeder 4 receives the articles dropping from a feeder not illustrated in the drawings and transports the received articles by radially dispersing them through vibrations. A plurality of (14 in the illustrated example)linear feeders 5 are disposed around thedispersion feeder 4. Theselinear feeders 5 receive the articles from thedispersion feeder 4 and vibrationally transports the articles outward. This combination scale further has, beneath the ends of thelinear feeders 5,feeding hoppers 6 and weighinghoppers 7 that are disposed correspondingly to thelinear feeders 5. A plurality of (14 in the illustrated example) weighing units each containing thelinear feeder 5,feeding hopper 6 and weighinghopper 7 are circularly arranged around thecenter base body 1. - A
collection chute 8 is disposed at a position below the weighinghoppers 7 that are circularly arranged. Thecollection chute 8 receive the articles discharged from an optimal combination of weighing hoppers containing the articles having a summed weight that falls within a predetermined range of weights. At a position below thecollection chute 8 is disposed acollection funnel 9 that collects the articles dropping from thecollection chute 8. Acollection hopper 10 is disposed below thecollection funnel 9. Thecollection hopper 10 receives and retains the articles dropped and collected along thecollection funnel 9 toward the center and then discharges the articles based on an article discharge request from the packaging apparatus. - The
dispersion feeder 4 includes atop cone 11 to which the articles are supplied and further includes anelectromagnetic vibrator 12 driven to vibrate thetop cone 11. Thevibrator 12 is coupled to a center part of asupport frame 13 with aweight sensor 14 being interposed therebetween. - The
linear feeders 5 each have a trough (feeder pan) 16 that extends to and from inner and outer sides of the scale and also have anelectromagnetic vibrator 17 driven to vibrate the trough. Thevibrators 17 are supportably mounted to thesupport frame 13 in thecenter base body 1 in a manner that surround thevibrator 13 for thedispersion feeder 5. -
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the combination scale from which thetop cone 11 of thedispersion feeder 4 and thetroughs 16 of thelinear feeders 5 have been removed.Fig. 4 is a perspective view of thecenter base body 1 from which thetop cone 11 and thetroughs 16 have been removed. - In the
tope cone 11 of thedispersion feeder 4 is installed a buckle-type coupling jig 15 having anoperation lever 15a. Thetop cone 11 is fixedly couplable to or decouplable from thevibrator 12 in the following manner; first, thecoupling jig 15 is located to and engaged with an exposed upper part of thevibrator 12, and theoperation lever 15a is then oscillated upward or downward beyond the dead center. - The
linear feeders 5 each have, on its bottom lower surface, a buckle-type coupling jig 18 having an operation lever 18a. Thetrough 16 of thelinear feeder 5 is fixedly couplable to or decouplable from thevibrator 17 in the following manner; first, thecoupling jig 18 is located to and engaged with an exposed upper part of thevibrator 17, and the operation lever 18a is then oscillated upward or downward beyond the dead center. - As illustrated in
Fig. 2 , thecenter base body 1 has, in its outer circumference, drivingunits 19 driven to open and close the gates of thefeeding hoppers 6 and weighinghoppers 7. In thecenter base body 1, weight sensors, like load cells, are also housed in thecenter base body 1 in addition to the drivingunits 19. The weight sensors are used to measure the weights of articles in the weighinghoppers 7. - The
weight sensor 14 detects the weight of articles in thetop cone 11 of thedispersion feeder 4. Thus, the supply of articles into thedispersion feeder 4 is controlled, so that thetop cone 11 is constantly supplied with the articles of a weight that falls within a certain range of weights. - In view of hygiene, combination scales used to weigh foodstuffs should desirably be cleaned on a frequent basis. The combination scale A according to this embodiment has, in its portion mounted with the
dispersion feeder 4 and thelinear feeders 5, a sealing structure B serving to prevent the penetration of cleaning water into thecenter base body 1. -
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the sealing structure B for thelinear feeders 5.Fig. 6 is a partly broken, perspective view of a bellows; an exemplified sealing member used in the sealing structure B.Fig. 7 is a partly broken, plan view of the bellows.Fig. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bellows. - The sealing structure B according to this embodiment uses, as a sealing member, an annular bellows 21. The annular bellows 21 is made of a transparent rubber material, an example of which is a silicon rubber easy to elastically deform. This bellows 21 includes annular coupling portions; an
upper coupler 21a, anintermediate coupler 21b continuous to theupper coupler 21a, and alower coupler 21c continuous to theintermediate coupler 21b. Theupper coupler 21a is couplable to an upper part of a vibratinghead 23 of thevibrator 17. Theintermediate coupler 21b is couplable to thetop plate 1a of thecenter base body 1. Thelower coupler 21c is couplable to a lower part of the vibratinghead 23. - The
upper coupler 21a is a thick portion formed at a center-side upper edge of the annular bellows 21 (inner upper edge). Thelower coupler 21c is a thick portion formed at a center-side lower edge of the annular bellows 21 on the center side (inner lower edge). - The
intermediate coupler 21b is formed in a flat shape along thetop plate 1a of thecenter base body 1. Thisintermediate coupler 21b has a plurality of (five in the illustrated example) coupling holes 22. These coupling holes 22 are circumferentially formed at a constant pitch and are used to couple theintermediate coupler 21b to thetop plate 1a of thecenter base body 1. - A bulging
portion 21e; easily elastically deformable portion, is annularly formed between theintermediate coupler 21b and a flatupper surface portion 21d extending outward from theupper coupler 21a. The bulgingportion 21e is deformed and curved outward in the illustrated example. - The
intermediate coupler 21b extends from a lower part of the bulgingportion 21e toward the center (inward) of the annular bellows 21. Agroove 21f, which is an example of the elastically deformable portion, is annularly formed between theintermediate coupler 21b and thelower coupler 21c. - The vibrating
head 23 of thevibrator 17 is electromagnetically driven and vibrationally displaceable. The trough-mounting portion of thetop plate 1a of thecenter base body 1 is raised to a higher level than the other portions, constituting a top plate raisedportion 1a'. The top plate raisedportion 1a' has anopening 24 formed in its upper surface, and the vibratinghead 23 is disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of theopening 24. The vibratinghead 23 includes a vibratingbody 23a, afirst support member 23b, a second support member 23c, and an engageable coupling member 23d. The vibratingbody 23a is electromagnetically driven and thereby vibrated at a predetermined frequency and amplitude. Thefirst support member 23b is coupled onto the vibratingbody 23a. The second support member 23c is coupled onto thefirst support member 23b. The engageable coupling member 23d is coupled onto the second support member 23c. Thelower coupler 21c of thebellows 21 is coupled to and held between thefirst support member 23b and the second support member 23c. Theupper coupler 21a of thebellows 21 is coupled to and held between the second support member 23c and the engageable coupling member 23d. Theintermediate coupler 21b of thebellows 21 is held between push rings 25 embedded in thebellows 21 and the upper surface of the top plate raisedportion 1a'.Screws 26 are inserted through the push rings 25 and the coupling holes 22 and then fastened into the top plate raisedportion 1a' to fixedly couple theintermediate coupler 21b of thebellows 21 to the top plate raisedportion 1a'. - In the sealing structure B thus characterized, the bulging
portion 21e of thebellows 21 elastically deforms in response to any vibration displacement of the vibratinghead 23. This may absorb vibrations of the vibratinghead 23, thus preventing the vibrations from transmitting to thetop plate 1a. - Likewise, the
groove 21f is elastically deformable upon any vibration displacement of the vibratinghead 23, which may also conduce to the absorption of the vibrations of the vibratinghead 23. - The exposed
upper surface portion 21d and bulgingportion 21e may involve the risk of contact with any other member or object. Such a contact may possibly damage and generate a crack(s) in these portions, which possibly invites cleaning water to penetrate into thebellows 21. In the sealing structure B described herein, theintermediate coupler 21b coupled to the top plate raisedportion 1a' extends, through thegroove 21f, to thelower coupler 21c coupled to the lower part of the sealing structure B. This sealing structure, therefore, offers a double sealing mechanism; one is an outer sealing including the exposedupper surface portion 21d and bulgingportion 21e and a portion from the bulgingportion 21a to theintermediate coupler 21b, and an inner sealing including a portion from theintermediate coupler 21b to thelower coupler 21c through thegroove 21f. - Possibly, cleaning water may be invited inward as a result of any damage to the bulging
portion 21e and/or theupper surface portion 21d of the outer sealing. Yet, the inner sealing is further provided that includes a portion from theintermediate coupler 21b to thelower coupler 21c through thegroove 21f. This inner sealing may effectively prevent the cleaning water from further penetrating into thecenter base body 1. The cleaning water, if it penetrated into thebellows 21, may be retained inside the groove 21g. - The bellows 21 made of a transparent rubber material may allow the inside to be easily looked in, and whether the groove 21g is containing the cleaning water may be checked in a timely manner. This may lead to quick decision on whether there is any damage to the
bellows 21 or whether thebellows 21 should be replaced. - The material of the bellows is not necessarily selected from silicon rubbers and may be selected from translucent materials including EPDM.
- The sealing structure B may also be used to block any fluid from entering the
dispersion feeder 4. InFig. 9 is illustrated the sealing structure B disposed in the dispersion feeder-mounted portion. - In a center part of the
top plate 1a of thecenter base body 1, the top plate raisedportion 1a', which is made of a different material, is disposed in a manner that protrudes upward to a large extent, as illustrated inFig. 9 . Thevibrator 12 has a vibratinghead 27 and is housed in the top plate raisedportion 1a'. This vibratinghead 27 is disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of the center opening formed in the upper surface of the top plate raisedportion 1a'. Thetop cone 11 is coupled to an upper end of the vibratinghead 27 through the buckle-type coupling jig 15. The same bellows 21 as in the sealing structure B for thelinear feeders 5 is fitted to between the protruding portion of the vibratinghead 27 and the upper surface of the top plate raisedportion 1a' in the same manner as thelinear feeders 5. - The scope of this invention may include the following modes.
- 1] The bellows 21 may desirably be visually checkable to see what is occurring inside. This, however, is not an indispensable requirement, insofar as the sealing structure B can be disassembled at the time of routine checkup for events like water penetration and/or water retention in the
groove 21f. - 2] As illustrated in
Fig. 10 , anupward projection 21h; an example of the deformable bent portion, may be formed between theintermediate coupler 21b and thelower coupler 21c of thebellows 21. This may successfully block cleaning water, if it penetrated into thebellows 21, from further running toward and reaching thelower coupler 21b. This structural feature may also control the vibrations of the vibratinghead 23 from transmitting to the top plate raisedportion 1a' and also to thetop plate 1a. - 3] As illustrated in
Fig. 11 , theintermediate coupler 21b of thebellows 21 may be inclined in a manner that rises by degrees toward thelower coupler 21c. Thus, cleaning water, if it penetrated into thebellows 21, may be successfully blocked from further running toward and reaching thelower coupler 21c. - 4] The sealing structure of this invention available for combination scales may be applicable to a plurality of linear feeders that are horizontally arranged in a row, instead of multiple weighing units that are circularly arranged.
- 5] The sealing structure of this invention may also be useful as a water blocking means in any apparatuses that vibrationally transport articles using a linear feeder(s) alone.
-
- 1
- cabinet (center base body)
- 1a
- top plate
- 1a'
- top plate raised portion
- 4
- dispersion feeder
- 5
- linear feeder
- 6
- feeding hopper
- 7
- weighing hopper
- 11
- top cone
- 12
- vibrator
- 13
- vibrating head
- 16
- trough
- 17
- vibrator
- 21
- bellows (sealing member)
- 21a
- upper coupler
- 21b
- intermediate coupler
- 21c
- lower coupler
- 21d
- upper surface portion
- 21e
- bulging portion
- 21f
- groove (deformable bent portion)
- 23
- vibrating head
- A
- weighing apparatus (combination scale)
- B
- sealing structure
Claims (12)
- A sealing structure, comprising a sealing member having an annular shape and elastically deformable,the sealing member being interposed between a top plate of a cabinet mounted with a vibrator and a vibrating head of the vibrator disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of an opening of the top plate,the sealing member comprising an upper coupler, an intermediate coupler continuous to the upper coupler, and a lower coupler continuous to the intermediate coupler,the upper coupler being couplable to an upper part of the vibrating head, the intermediate coupler being couplable to the top plate, the lower coupler being couplable to a lower part of the vibrating head.
- The sealing structure according to claim 1, wherein
the sealing member comprises a bulging portion deformable outward between the upper coupler and the intermediate coupler. - The sealing structure according to claim 1, wherein
the sealing member comprises a deformable bent portion between the intermediate coupler and the lower coupler. - The sealing structure according to claim 2, wherein
the sealing member comprises a deformable bent portion between the intermediate coupler and the lower coupler. - The sealing structure according to claim 3, wherein
the deformable bent portion is a groove. - The sealing structure according to claim 4, wherein
the deformable bent portion is a groove. - The sealing structure according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
the sealing member comprises a transparent or translucent material. - The sealing structure according to one of claims 1 to 6, whereinthe top plate of the cabinet partly includes a raised portion, andthe intermediate coupler of the sealing member is coupled to an upper surface of the raised portion.
- A weighing apparatus, comprising:a center base body including a top plate and used as a cabinet;a dispersion feeder; anda plurality of linear feeders each having a trough,the dispersion feeder and the linear feeders being disposed in an upper part of the center base body, the dispersion feeder radially dispersing and transporting articles, the linear feeders transporting, further outward, the articles dispersed and transported by the dispersion feeder,the weighing apparatus further comprising a plurality of feeding hoppers and a plurality of weighing hoppers that are disposed in an outer circumference of the center base body, the feeding hoppers temporarily retaining and then discharging the articles received from the linear feeders, the weighing hoppers retaining and weighing the articles discharged from the feeding hoppers,the center base body being mounted with a vibrator for the linear feeders, the vibrator comprising a vibrating head disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of an opening of the top plate,the troughs of the linear feeders being mounted to the vibrating head of the vibrator,the weighing apparatus further comprising the sealing structure according to claim 7 in which the sealing member is interposed between the vibrating head of the vibrator for the linear feeders and the top plate of the center base body.
- The weighing apparatus according to claim 9, whereinthe center base body is mounted with a vibrator for the dispersion feeder, the vibrator comprising a vibrating head disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of the opening of the top plate,the top cone of the dispersion feeder is mounted to the vibrating head of the vibrator, andthe weighing apparatus further comprises the sealing structure according to claim 7 in which the sealing member is interposed between the vibrating head of the vibrator for the dispersion feeder and the top plate of the center base body.
- A weighing apparatus, comprising:a center base body including a top plate and used as a cabinet;a dispersion feeder; anda plurality of linear feeders each having a trough,the dispersion feeder and the linear feeders being disposed in an upper part of the center base body, the dispersion feeder radially dispersing and transporting articles, the linear feeders transporting, further outward, the articles dispersed and transported by the dispersion feeder,the weighing apparatus further comprising a plurality of feeding hoppers and a plurality of weighing hoppers that are disposed in an outer circumference of the center base body, the feeding hoppers temporarily retaining and then discharging the articles received from the linear feeders, the weighing hoppers retaining and weighing the articles discharged from the feeding hoppers,the center base body being mounted with a vibrator for the linear feeders, the vibrator comprising a vibrating head disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of the opening of the top plate,the troughs of the linear feeders being mounted to the vibrating head of the vibrator,the weighing apparatus further comprising the sealing structure according to claim 8 in which the sealing member is interposed between the vibrating head of the vibrator for the linear feeders and the top plate of the center base body.
- The weighing apparatus according to claim 11, whereinthe center base body is mounted with a vibrator for the dispersion feeder, the vibrator comprising a vibrating head disposed in a manner that protrudes upward out of the opening of the top plate,the top cone of the dispersion feeder is mounted to the vibrating head of the vibrator, andthe weighing apparatus further comprises the sealing structure according to claim 8 in which the sealing member is interposed between the vibrating head of the vibrator for the dispersion feeder and the top plate of the center base body.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2020/010785 WO2021181602A1 (en) | 2020-03-12 | 2020-03-12 | Seal structure and weighing machine comprising same |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP4119471A1 true EP4119471A1 (en) | 2023-01-18 |
EP4119471A4 EP4119471A4 (en) | 2023-11-29 |
EP4119471B1 EP4119471B1 (en) | 2024-07-17 |
Family
ID=77671459
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP20924935.8A Active EP4119471B1 (en) | 2020-03-12 | 2020-03-12 | Seal structure and weighing machine comprising same |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20230091619A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP4119471B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP7332269B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN115210154A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2021181602A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS54180120U (en) * | 1978-06-09 | 1979-12-20 | ||
JPS5751063A (en) * | 1980-09-11 | 1982-03-25 | Iseki & Co Ltd | Dustboot for cabin |
JPS5885529A (en) * | 1981-11-18 | 1983-05-21 | Nec Corp | Manufacture of semiconductor device |
JPS5885529U (en) * | 1981-12-08 | 1983-06-10 | 日産車体株式会社 | shift lever boots |
EP0362567B1 (en) * | 1988-09-07 | 1992-12-09 | Ishida Scales Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Waterproof automatic weighing apparatus |
JPH0551820U (en) * | 1991-12-20 | 1993-07-09 | アンリツ株式会社 | Distributed feeder |
JP3836351B2 (en) * | 2001-10-09 | 2006-10-25 | 株式会社イシダ | Weighing device and combination weighing device |
JP2006116602A (en) * | 2004-09-24 | 2006-05-11 | Bondotekku:Kk | Parallelism regulating method and device for pressurizing apparatus |
JP2008298716A (en) * | 2007-06-04 | 2008-12-11 | Ishida Co Ltd | Cleaning method of weighing device, weighing device, weighing packaging system and weighing packaging inspection system |
JP2009235971A (en) * | 2008-03-26 | 2009-10-15 | Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd | Seal member, steam turbine, and method of avoiding resonance |
WO2010113932A1 (en) * | 2009-03-31 | 2010-10-07 | イーグル工業株式会社 | Bellows type mechnical seal |
JP2011163957A (en) * | 2010-02-10 | 2011-08-25 | Yamato Scale Co Ltd | Waterproof structure of door and weighing device |
JP3174285U (en) * | 2011-10-17 | 2012-03-15 | 株式会社イシダ | Waterproof structures and union weighing devices |
JP6050690B2 (en) * | 2013-01-21 | 2016-12-21 | 株式会社イシダ | Combination weighing device |
JP6086759B2 (en) * | 2013-03-05 | 2017-03-01 | 大和製衡株式会社 | Load cell |
DE102013105647B4 (en) * | 2013-05-31 | 2014-12-11 | Wipotec Wiege- Und Positioniersysteme Gmbh | Housing for a weighing device |
JP6242086B2 (en) * | 2013-06-05 | 2017-12-06 | 大和製衡株式会社 | Combination scale |
CN203385476U (en) * | 2013-08-26 | 2014-01-08 | 佛山市顺力德智能机器有限公司 | Waterproof structure between vibration head and cabinet in composite scale |
JP2015068721A (en) * | 2013-09-30 | 2015-04-13 | 株式会社イシダ | Weighing unit |
-
2020
- 2020-03-12 US US17/910,249 patent/US20230091619A1/en active Pending
- 2020-03-12 CN CN202080097992.8A patent/CN115210154A/en active Pending
- 2020-03-12 WO PCT/JP2020/010785 patent/WO2021181602A1/en unknown
- 2020-03-12 JP JP2022507110A patent/JP7332269B2/en active Active
- 2020-03-12 EP EP20924935.8A patent/EP4119471B1/en active Active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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EP4119471A4 (en) | 2023-11-29 |
US20230091619A1 (en) | 2023-03-23 |
EP4119471B1 (en) | 2024-07-17 |
JP7332269B2 (en) | 2023-08-23 |
CN115210154A (en) | 2022-10-18 |
JPWO2021181602A1 (en) | 2021-09-16 |
WO2021181602A1 (en) | 2021-09-16 |
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